What are you buying?  My card re-ups on the 13th, my list for that day-bread, butter, cheeses, fruit, juice, cereal, a few snacks, a few beverages, coffee, creamer, some baking supplies, bananas, chocolate chips, frozen pizza or go to Papa Murphy's.  One of our stores is running a promotion that if you shop there you can earn giftcards, through Dec 19, I am planning on doing most of my shopping there to be able to use the cards for things like tp, paper towels, diapers, and maybe a few books or socks for Christmas gifts.  I think I should be able to get about $30 in gcs before the deadline.

Dear Tracy & All, I wanted to go shopping at Whole Foods today with a sister congregant, but can't because I haven't been able to train Heart to use her crate yet.  I could go to Cala/Ralphs/Kroger for just a few things -- I vested Heart the other day to go there -- it's a store with little traffic, in sharp contrast to WF.  I believe Ana, our Trainer, is coming today.

Anyhow, I have $296.96 in SNAP/Food Stamps EBT now ($96.96 left over from Sept; re-upping on the 1st), & have a fairly long shopping list.

I  very much hope that you are able to get at least $30 in gift cards.

Love in Him, Deb

Bought some of the things on the list, need to go to the store again, but I am saving money so I don't get stuck at the end of the month purchasing food again with my credit card, had to buy some things like milk, bread, butter on the card, but kept it minimal.

I do also have some things I need for holiday baking, like mint extract, chocolate, etc, that I'd like to start buying.  I am going to make mint layer brownies, baklava, sugar cookies. I have some walnuts in the freezer.

I hope you can do your big shop soon, Deb.  Does your puppy nap when you leave, or fuss?  

G-d willling, dear Tracy, a sister congregant & I are going shopping today at Cala/Ralphs/Kroger, a store that is never too crowded, especially early in the morning (we'''re going at 8AM.).  Heart cnanot be left hoooome under any circumstances, until she uses her crate, which will be a LONG training process.  Vested, she can enter a stroe.  HOWEVER, going into Whole FOods is the LAST Public Access traiiiining that we'lll be doing, as there are so many smells there (food demos & samples aer just part of teh smells there.). 

I am SO out of food.  Only bread do I have almost enough of for going into next week, as Jewish Family & Children's Services is brining me a loaf or the equivalent in rolls,, bagels weekly.

I am grocery shopping every other week.  As I'll post later,, I am able to take advantage of hte Quaker instant oatmeal sale at Walgreens now, though.

Love in Him, Deb

Deb, please post that you shopped soon, I hope!  Maybe you need to get a puppy sitter for two hours to shop. Is there someone in your apartment that Heart could stay with while you shop? 

I was a litte discouraged, I stopped and got a few items, I thought, at the store, and my two bags were $60.  I thought it was a lot, but it was a lot of things that have been on my list for a long time that are costly- instant coffee, a super size container of Swiss Miss cocoa- in case you don't know it is rainy and snowy here, we had snow on the ground two mornings last week.  The kids are off school for two or three days this week, so I thought cocoa would cheer up their break, and it has.  I bought a double size store brand bag of chocolate chips. I bought roasted almonds. So, it wasn't so bad given what I bought- also things like bananas, bread, bagels, cheese- but I had a little "total" shock, when it was added up.  

I picked up our CSA Thursday, and froze some peppers and hung the dill up to dry.  We have enjoyed leeks and carrots. I think I will freeze a few leeks, to extend the season. We have tons of squash to bake and roast, parsnips to mash, and gold potatoes to chunk up, drizzle with olive oil and salt and bake. Yum!

way ta go debra you did berrer then I did I blew along with mom today at the shopping at the market 333.00 wow my eyes poped out dad had a hissy fit as useal I told ma to take dad so he would stop crying about it

Dear Tracy, It 's not that you shopped unwisely, it's jsut that groceries are EXPENSIVE these daaays!

Yes, we did go shopping finally on Friday, & on Thurs & Fri, we went to Walgreens for instant oatmeal.  Heart was vested each time.  It's a bright orange backpack with a badge on the right side that says, "Service Dog in Training" & has a picture of a puppy.  Against Heart's black hair, someone asked if it was a Halloween costume!!!  I'll have to guard her closely from naughty adolescents that Saturday!

I had $295.28 SNAP/Food Stamps EBT balance goign in ($95.28 left over from Sept).  For 4 packages of Quaker instant oatmeal, (10 packs each), I had $1.25 couposn on each 2.  The sale price wss 2/$5.  I paid $3.75 on each purchase, for a total savings no each purchse of 167%.  (Thank you again, Kate, for yoru tutorial on percents!)

It was invalluable having my sister congregant take us to Cala/Ralphs/Kroger on Friday.  I can really use aid even w/o my doggie to steer, but having Susan take the helm of the shopping basket made the trip smooth.  I could never haave done it withoout her.  BTW, the sweetheart stopped at a produce market yesterdday & got me/Heart a lb each of carrots & Monterey Jack cheese & hs diced both for Heart, & will bring them later today.

I paid $87.48.  I had just one coupon ($1).  I bought 2 half-gallons of Ocean Spray grapefruit juice ($2.49, $2.40 off sale), $3.79 for a gallooon of skim milk (MUCH more expensive than at Whole Foods, ah well), $2.99 for cheese spread for Heart, 60czents off.  I pid $3.99 for each of 2 - 12 oz packages of string cheese,part skim, saving $2.70 each.  I paid $3.79 for frozen entree Celanto stuffed shells with spinach, & another $3.79 for eggplant Parmesan.  I paid $1.39 for discount-bin garlic Melba crackers.  I paid $4.99 for Orowheat Jewish rye bread.  I paid $3.49 for whole-grain bread.  I paaid $1.99 for each of 3 Ralph's fat-free qqts of chicken broth -- I moisten Heart's kibble with it, actually I make it into a kind of sparse soup.  I bought 2.56 lbs of bananas on loss-leader at 33cents/lb.  I bought 2 lbs of Calymyra dried figs @ $6.49.  I bought 4 Amy's pot pies (2 broccolli & 2 veggie) @ $3.99.  I bought Amy's enchilada entree for $4.69.  I bought 1.33 lbs granola @ $3.99/lb (same kind & price as at Whole Foods).  I bought .47 lbs of candied ginger for $4.19/lb.  I bought Heart a package of turkey hot dogs for $1.89.  I use a scisssors to cut these as training treats.  And I bought her a jar of lamb baby food for 99cents & one of turkey baby food for 69cents ((doled out in dashes, just as the cheese spread is, as traiining treats). 

I now have $200.30 in EBT.  Yours in Him, Deb

 Sounds like you bought lots of good things.

I spent $68 yesterday, the SNAP is going rapidly.  I have $340 left until November 13th.  I bought bread, cheese, ice cream, bagels, pizza crust, mushrooms,etc.  I saved $11 on sale prices. 

I am going to try to use my pantry more, most of the farm food has been used this time, but will get a delivery on the 30th. Someone from church gave us potatoes, about 20 lbs, baked 7 lbs for dinner one night, and have a few leftover for fried potatoes.  Dd made squash soup with a butternut.  I have an antique baguette I will use for bread pudding. 

I will make some pumpkin bread tonight, I think.  

Dear Tracy, You have about 4 weeks to go (till 11/13,, if I'm calculating correctly) oon just $340 for your 6 kids & dh &you!  You're constantly in my prayers!  Love in Him, Deb

Dear ALl, THe vet put Heart on a bland food diet for 4 days & said that baby food is perfect.  So I got 4 more jars of turkey-rice dinner (I've used it as a treat in teh past.  She adores it.).  They cosst $0.69 each.  My SNAP/Food Stamps EBT was $200.30 going in; I have $197.73 left.  Yours in Hiiim, Deb